Stripping mechanism



W. L. SILVERNAIL.

, STRIPPING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. 1916.

1,314,759. Patented Sept. 2,1919.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. SILVERNAIL, 0F BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOH. MERSEREAU GEER, 0F BIN GI-IAMTON, NEW YORK.

STRIPPING- MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM L. SILVER- NAIL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in StrippingMechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mechanism for scraping orremoving the outer covering from various objects and is particularlyadapted for stripping the covering from insulated wires.

In the use of prior mechanisms of this character, it has been necemaryto perform three independent manual operations such as 1) Inserting thedesired object in the stripping mechanism, (2) rendering the strippingmechanism effective (as by the manipulation and compression of tong-likehandles), and (3) removing the stripped object from the strippingmechanism. both hands of the user being thus occupied.

WV hen such prior mechanism has been employed for stripping insulationfrom each of a large number of loose pieces of wire, as is frequentlydone in factories, both hands of the operator are simultaneously engagedin a complex awkward operation of a very fatiguing character. Thesuccessful operation of such prior mechanisms has usually depended uponthe application of a uniform force throughout the stripping operationfor the purpose of maintaining the stripping members in sufficientlyfirm contact with the conductor to assure the complete removal of theinsulation while avoiding the application of such degree of force aswould be calculated to cut or score the conductor. Thus, in the cases ofmany prior Wire stripping mechanisms, the application of too much force,especially just before or at the commencement of the strippingoperation, would cause damage to the conductor being stripped; and, allprior stripping mechanisms with which I am acquainted fail to provideuniform and satisfactory results in practical use, under the condltionsjust referred to, in that the fatigue of the user, sooner or later.results in the application of insuflicient and irregular degrees offorce in applyin such prior mechanisms. thus failing to ully andeffectively remove the intended portions of the insulation, greatlydecreasing speed and output, and incurring other practical disadvantageswhich are well understood by those who have had occasion to employ suchprior stripping mechanisms.

An object of this invention is to provide a stripping mechanism adaptedto be repeatedly employed with considerable rapidity and with a minimumof fatigue to the user.

Another object is to provide a mechanism in which the degree of theeffectiveness of the stripping function is automatically determined, andis not affected by any lack of skill, or judgment or by the degree offatigue of the user.

Other objects are to provide stripping mechanism which is more compact,more simple in operation, more economically manufactured, and moredurable than prior mechanisms.

Still other objects are referred to in the following specification andclaims.

In constructing this invention, I provide a. suit-able frame or supportin which are pivoted a plurality of stripping or scraping blades, eachhaving a notched cutting edge. These blades are so formed and arrangedthat they may swing on their pivots to a position where their cuttingedges will be contiguous and the notches therein will cooperate in thedesired manner, and so that they may swing on their pivots to anotherposition where their cutting edges will be sutlicicntly separated topermit intended objects which have not been stripped to pass betweensaid blades. Guiding means for objects to be stripped should be providedadjacent to the opening or openings formed by the notch or notches insaid blades, which guiding means may form a stop for suitably limitingthe swing of said blades.

The blades should be of such thickness. and should have tapered recessesso formed therein, that, when an object to be stripped is insertedthrough the guiding means. such object will be held by the tapered sidesof such recesses in concentric relation tot-he opening formed by thenotches in the cutting edges of said blades.

A yieldingly resilient restoring means. such as a spring pressed part,is so applied to sald blades that, when an object to be companyingdrawings and hereinafter described which embodies the various featuresof this invention; but this invention is not limited to the constructionshown and here inafter described, as various changes in form, andadditions or omissions of parts,

may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Like characters of reference denote the same parts throughout theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a wirestripping mechanism embodyingthis invention.

i Fig 2 is a rear elevationof the wire-stripping mechanismshown in Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the center portion of Figs. 1and 2 taken through the line 44 thereof and showing a wire in process ofbeing stripped.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the center portion of Figs. 1and 2 showing the position of the various parts when a piece of wire hasbeen inserted ready to be stripped.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear-elevation of one of the blades shown in theother views.

In these drawings, 20 is a-frame in which the blades 21, 21 are somounted, by means of the pivots 22, 22, 22, 22, as tobe adapted tofreely swing therein. Each of said blades has a cutting edge 23 formedalong one side of the free end thereof, the other side of the free endsof said blades being suitably beveled so as to afford a proper clearanceduring the operation of the blades hereinafter more fully described.

Each cutting edge 23 has formed therein the notches 124 and 125, saidnotches being so relatively located that when said edges are broughttogether said notches will cooperate to form the openings 24 and 25 re-'spectively. Each of said openin is of such size and shape that it willpermit the stripped conductor of some desired size of in sulated wire tosnugly pass therethrough and 7 it will be noted that the opening 24 isof smaller diameter than the opening 25, so that said openings aresuited for the passage of' conductors of different sizes therethrough. v

A cross-bar 26 is mounted on one side of the frame 20 in such positionas' to be adapted to act as a stop for arresting the movement of theblades 21, 21, when they have been swung toward the beveled sidesthereof until their cutting edges meet.

The 'de-hole 27 is provided in the crossbar 26, said hole being solocated as to be substantially concentric with the opening 24 and beingof such diameter as to permit free passage therethrough of insulatedconductors which are suited to be stripped by passing them through saidopening 24. The

use in connection with the opening 25.

The notches 124 and 125 in the blades 21,

that the cut-away ends of said openings presented to the guide-holes 27and 28 will be as largeas, orslightly larger than,-said' respectiveholes.

' Restoring means 1S provided, comprising the recessed plate 29, whichis yieldingly se cured to the frame 20-by means of the screws 30, 30,under the heads of which screws the spiral expanding springs 31 are soapplied in the countersunk holes 32 as to constantly act to tend topress said screw-heads out of said holes and to thereby draw said plate29 toward the bar 26. The head of one screw 30, its associated spring 31and recess 32 are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4. .The' plate 29 isrecessed, as at 33, so as to permit insulated wires which are of sizessuited to the holes 27 and 28 to pass therethrough, and said plate 29 isof such size andshape as to beadapted to act uponthe blades 21, 21

so as to tend to simultaneously move or hold both of said'blades againstthe bar 26, while ermitting said blades to so swing away from said baras to allow insulated wires of sizes suited to the guide-holes 27 and 28to pass between said blades. a

It is important that the plate 29 shall act upon the blades 21, 21 witha suitableforce, and that said blades are caused to maintain suchsymmetrical relation to one another that when they are or have beenforced apart, as by passing the wire 34 between them as shown in Fig. 4,the points of engagement of the cutting edges of said blades with theoutside surface of the "insulation of such a wirewill at all times be solocated that, upon the withdrawal of such a wire .the direction of thebar 26., said cutting edges will catch in the insulating coveringofsucha. wine at points which are equidistant from the bar 26 so as tocause said blades to swing around their pivots until their cutting edgesmeet, and thereby sever the insulation located at one side of said 75guide-pole 28 is correspondingly suited for I blades from that locatedat the other side thereof.

It is evident that if these blades were to catch in the surface of theinsulation of the wire at points which were not diametrically opposite.or equidistant from the bar 26, the notches produced in said insulationby the approach of the cutting edges would not form a continuous not-charound the wire. but would comprise two substantially semi-circularnotches, one of which would be located in advance of the other, alongthe length of said wire, and would thus not completely sever theinsulation located at opposite sides of said blades when the movement ofthe leading bladewas arrested by the bar 26. \Vhile a mechanism which soacted might still be employed in some cases for removing the insulationfrom a wire, in the instances of wires having the thickness ofinsulation for which such a mechanism is most likely to be employed, theresults would not be as neatly and satisfactorily accomplished, and amaterially greater amount of energy would be needed to accomplishcorresponding results, and in many cases the conductor would be objectionably scored.

'hile onlytwo notches are shown in each of the blades 21, 21, it isevident that such number of notches can be provided as may be desired,and in any event there should be such number of notches as is needed tomake suitable provision for every size, and any special shapes ofconductors which it is desired to strip by means of a given mechanism.

It is likewise evident that, if desired, more than two blades may beemployed, and that in any event the blades should be of such shape. somounted, and provided with cut ting edges of such form :-that, when theblades are in one position, said cutting edges will snugly inclose abare conductor of the desired size; that, when in another position, saidblades will permit such conductor and its insulating covering of thedesired thickness to pass between them: and that. when open to soreceive the insulated conductor, the cutting edges will be adapted to soengage the insulating covering, that. if the conductor is drawn throughsaid blades in a certain direction, said cutting edges will so catch inthe insulation as to swing said blades on their pivots as to force saidedges to cut through the insulation in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the length of the conductor.

The operation of this mechanism is as follows :The frame 20 may beconveniently grasped in one hand of the person using it. or it may besecured in a fixed position. as by holding it in a vise.

'ire of the desired size and diameter of insulation should be passedthrough the guide-hole suited therefor, by suitably moving the mechanismwith relation to a fixed wire, or by moving the wire with relation tothe mechanism in cases where the mechanism is held in a fixed position,or by a combination of such movements in cases where neither themechanism or wire is secured fixed in position. The end of the wireshould be thus forced past the blades 21, 21, thereby swinging saidblades as shown in Fig. 3, and the portion of the wire from which it isdesiied to remove the insulation should be caused to project past saidblades in the direction of the plate 29.

Assuming that such a wire 3% is thus in.- serted through the guide-hole28, it is evident that said hole will serve to guide the end of saidwire into the large end of the conical opening 25 formed by the taperedrecesses 225, and that, as such wire passes between said blades, thesprings 31 will act through the screws 30 and the plate 29 to cause thesides of the conical notches 125 to press against the sides of said wireand thereby maintain said wire in concentric relation with said notches,and the cutting edges surrounding said notches will be kept in firmengagement with the insulation of said wire at diametrically oppositesides thereof. \Vhen a wire has been thus inserted the various partswill occupy the positions shown in Fig. 3. If a wire is similarlyinserted through hole 27 and opening 24. such wire will be similarlyguided and engaged.

\Vhen a wire is positioned for stripping, as just described, (see Fig.3) it may be stripped by pullingvon the end of said wire which projectsoutside of the bar 26, or by moving the mechanism along the wire in thedirection of the end of the wire which projects through or outside ofthe plate 29. Such relative movement of the wire and strippin mechanismwill first result in cansing the blades 21, 21 to swing around theirpivots until their further movement is obstructed -by the bar 26,whereupon said blades will occupy the relative positions shown by Fig.3. and the cutting edges of said blades will have severed the insulatingcovering and will snugly inclose the conductor. It is evident thatfurther similar movement will draw through the opening 25 the portion ofthe conductor which extends from the blades 21. 21 through or outsidethe plate 29 while preventing the insulation of that portion of the wirefrom passing said blades.

From the foregoing it will be evident that insulated wires may berapidly and effectively cleaned by means of the stripping mechanismshown and described,.that but one hand of the operator need be occupiedto accomplish such stripping. and that, so long as the intended relativemovements of the wire and stripping mechanism are successively obtained,wires maybe stripped with uniform efficiency, without danger of scoringthe conductor, and without danger of failing to fully and effectivelyremove the insulation from the portion of the wire upon which thismechanism acts, on account of any fatigue of the user.

When the wire is inserted between the blades, as just described, themovement of the surface of such wire across the cutting edges of theblades tends to sharpen the portion of said cutting edge employed instripping insulation from such wire. Therefore this mechanism isself-sharpening to a large extent. I

If the cutting edges are substantially shortened, as from long continueduse and repeated sharpening, so thatsaid cutting edges fail tosubstantially meet,-the portion of the side of said blades whichnormally rests against the stop should be cut away, as by grinding them,or the stop itself should be cut or moved away, so as to permitsufficient additional swing of the blades so that their cutting edgesmay effectively meet.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supportingstructure,-stripping members carried by said. structure and hinged orpivoted for convergent and d1- vergent swing along the length of objectsto,

be stripped, means for limiting the convergent swin of said members, andapiece movable a ong the length of objects to be stripped in the path ofsaid members to yieldingly oppose and equalize the divergent swingthereof.

2. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supportingstructure,-stripping members carried 'by said structure and di-' hingedor pivoted for convergent and vergent swing along the length of objectsto be stripped, means for limiting the convergent swing of said members,a movable piece disposed in the path of the divergent swing of saidmembers, and means yieldingly urging said movable piece toward saidmembers.

3. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supporting structurestripping members having cutting edges so abutting that they may mclosean opening therebetween, said members being carried by said structureand so hinged or pivoted as, to be convergently or divergently swung,respec tively, by lengthwise movement in one direction or the othertherebetween of objects to be stripped; a stationary piece for-suitablylimiting the convergent swing of said members; apiece movabie in onedirection by the divergent swing of any blade; and means for yieldinglyurging said movable piece in the opposite direction.

4. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supporting structure:stripping members suitably mounted in said structure for convergent anddivergent movement I 5. In a stripping mechanism comprising .suitablesupporting structure :-stripping members suitably mounted in saidstructure for convergent and divergent movement along the length ofobjects to be stripped, and having notched cutting edges which may beabuttingly disposed to present tapering openings by the convergentmovement thereof; and guide pieces on opposite sides of and in closeproximity to said members, and having openings therethrough coaxial withsaid tapered openings.

6. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supporting structure:stripping members suitably mounted in said'structure for convergent anddivergent movement along the length of objects to be stripped,

and havingi cutting edges which may be abuttingly isposed by theconvergent movement thereof to inclose an opening therebetween; andguide pieces on opposite sides of and in close proximity to saidmembers, and having openings therethrough coaxial with the openinginclosed by the cut-ting ed es of said members, one of said guide pieceseing movable along the axis of the opening therethrough. a

7. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supporting structure:-stripping members suitably mounted in said structure for convergentand divergent movement along the lengthof objects to be stripped, andhaving notched cutting edges which may be abuttingly disposed to presenttapering openings by the convergent movement thereof; and guide pieceson opposite sides of and in close proximity to said members; and havingopenings therethrough coaxial with said tapered openings, one of saidguide pieces being movable along the axis of the opening therethrough.

8. In a stripping mewhanism comprising between; guide pieces on oppositesides "of and in close proximity to said members, and

having openings therethrough substantially coaxial with the openinginclosed by the cutting edges of said members, one of said pieces beingmovable along the axis of the opening therethrough; and means yieldinglyurging said movable piece toward the stripping members.

9. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supporting structure:stripping members suitably mounted in said structure for convergent anddivergent movement along the length of objects to be stripped, andhaving notched cutting edges which may be abuttingly disposed to presenttapering openings by the convergent movement thereof; guide pieces onopposite sides of and in close proximity to said members, and havingopenings therethrough substantially coaxial with said tapering openings,one of said pieces being movable along the axis of the openingtherethrough; and means yieldingly urging said movable piece toward saidstripping members.

10. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supportingstructure,st-ripping members carried by said structure and hinged orpivoted for convergent and divergent swing along the length of objectsto be stripped, a stationary piece disposed in the path of theconvergent swing of said members and so formed as to serve as a guidefor the insertion of unstripped objects therebetween, a.- movable piecedisposed in the path of the divergent swing of said members, and meansyieldingly urging said movable piece toward t-he stripping members.

11. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supportingstructure,-stripping members carried by said structure and hinged orpivoted for convergent and divergent swing along the length of objectsto be stripped, a stationary piece disposed in the path of theconvergent swing of said members, a movable piece disposed in the pathof the divergent swing of said members, said pieces having openingstherethrough to suit-ably guide unstripped objects passing between saidmembers, and means for yieldingly urging said movable piece toward thestripping members.

12. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supportingstructure,-stripping members carried by said structure and hinged orpivoted for convergent and divergent swing along the length of objectsto be stripped, a. stationary piece disposed in the path of theconvergent swing of said members and so formed as to serve as a guidefor the insertion of unstripped objects therebetween, a piece movablealong the length of objects to be stripped and disposed in the path ofthe divergent swing of said members, and means for yieldingly urgingsaid movable piece toward the stripping members.

13. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supportingstructure,stripping members carried by said structure and hinged orpivoted for convergent and divergent swing along the length of objectsto be stripped, a stationary piece disposed in the path of theconvergent swing of said members, a piece movable along the length ofobjects to be stripped and disposed in the path of the divergent swingof said members, said pieces being so formed as to suitably guideunstripped objects passing between said members, and means for yildingly urging said movable piece toward the stripping members.

14. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supportingstructure,stripping members carried by said structure and hinged orpivoted for convergent and divergent swing along the length of objectsto be stripped, and having abutting notched cutting edges the notchespresenting tapering recesses and openings, a. bar disposed in the pathof the convergent swing of said members and having an openingtherethrough to guide objects to be stripped into the recesses in theedges of said members. a movable piece disposed in the path of the.divergent swing of said members. and means for yieldingly urging saidmovable piece toward said members.

15. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supportingstructure,stripping members having cutting edges so abutting that theymay inclose an opening therebetween, said members being carried by saidstructure and so hinged or pivoted as to be convergently or divergentlyswung, respectively, by lengthwise movement in one direction or theother therebetween of objects to be stripped, a stationary piece forsuitably limiting the convergent swing of said members, a piece movablein one direction by the divergent swing of any blade, and means foryieldingly urging said movable piece in the opposite direction, saidpieces being so formed as to suitably guide the lengthwise movement ofob ects to be fitripped with relation to the stripping memers.

16. In a stripping mechanism comprising suitable supportingstructure:stripping members having cutting edges along one side ofadjacent ends thereof to inclose an opening therebetween, said membersbeing carried by said structure and so hinged or pivoted as to beconvergentlv or divergently swung, respectively, by lengt wise movementin one direction or the other therebetween of objects to be stripped; apiece yieldingly mounted on the cuttlng side of said blades and movablealong the axis of the opening therebetween; means for yieldingly urgingsaid movable piece toward said members; and a stationary piece on theother side of said members and in the path of the convergent swingthereof; said movable and stationary pieces having guide openingstherethrough for objects to be stripped, said openings being disposed incoaxial relation with one another and with the opening inclosed by thecutting edges of thestripping members.

17. In a wire stripping device,a frame plate havin an openingtherethrough, blades hinged or pivoted therein at their remote edges onaxes parallel to opposite sides of the frame plate, and having abuttingnotched cutting edges the notches presenting tapering recesses andopenings, a

piece yieldingly mounted on the cutting side of said blades and movablein a line perpendicular to the frame plate, spring mechanism urging saidpiece toward the stripping blades, and a bar secured to the other sideof the frame plate and having openings through it to guide wires to bestripped into the recesses in the edges of said blades.

18. In a wire stripping device,a frame plate having an openingtherethrough, blades hinged or pivoted therein at their remote edges onaxes parallel to the opposite sides of said frame plate, and havingabutting cutting edges along one side ofthe free ends thereof, a pieceyieldingly mounted on.

the cutting side of said blades and movable in a line perpendicular tothe frame plate,

spring mechanism urging said piece toward the stripping blades, and abar secured to the other side of the frame plate and having an openingthrough it to suitably guide wires to be stripped. v

19. In a stripping mechanism; the combination of a frame structurecomprising a guide for objects to be stripped, and blades hinged orpivoted for convergent swing to-- ward and lntocontact with said guideand for divergent swing away from said guide.

20. In a stripping mechanism; the combination of a frame structurecomprising a guide for objects to be stripped, blades hinged or pivotedfor convergent swing toward and into contact with said guide and fordivergent swing away from said guide, respectively, by lengthwisemovement in one direction or the other therebetween of objects to bestripped.

21. In a stripping mechanism; the combination of a frame structurecomprising a guide for objects to be stripped, and stripping membershinged or pivoted for convergent swing toward and into contact with saidguide and for divergent swing awayfrom said guide, and having cuttingedges along the'side of the adjacent ends thereof 4 remote from saidguide.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 60 my name, this 27th day ofNovember,

WILLIAM L. SILVERNAIL.

